The Housekeeper

Director: Claude Berri
Studio: Palm Pictures / Umvd
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Brilliantly conceived, superbly directed, and beautifully acted, Babel is inarguably one of the best films of 2006. Director Alejandro González Iñárritu and his co-writer, Guillermo Arriaga (the two also collaborated on Amores Perros and 21 Grams) weave together the disparate strands of their story into a finely hewn fabric by focusing on what appear to be several equally incongruent characters: an American (Brad Pitt) touring Morocco with his wife (Cate Blanchett) become the focus of an international incident also involving a hardscrabble Moroccan farmer (Mustapha Rachidi) struggling to keep his two young sons in line and his family together. A San Diego nanny (Adriana Barraza), her employers absent, makes the disastrous decision to take their kids with her to a wedding in Mexico. And a deaf-mute Japanese teen (the extraordinary Rinko Kikuchi) deals with a relationship with her father (Koji Yakusho) and the world in general that's been upended by the death of her mother. It is perhaps not surprising, or particularly original, that a gun is the device that ties these people together. Yet Babel isn't merely about violence and its tragic consequences. It's about communication, and especially the lack of it--both intercultural, raising issues like terrorism and immigration, and intracultural, as basic as husbands talking to their wives and parents understanding their children. Iñárritu's command of his medium, sound and visual alike, is extraordinary; the camera work is by turns kinetic and restrained, the music always well matched to the scenes, the editing deft but not confusing, and the film (which clocks in at a lengthy 143 minutes) is filled with indelible moments. Many of those moments are also pretty stark and grim, and no will claim that all of this leads to a "happy" ending, but there is a sense of reconciliation, perhaps even resolution. "If You Want to be Understood... Listen," goes the tagline. And if you want a movie that will leave you thinking, Babel is it. --Sam Graham

Beyond Babel

Other Interweaving Storylines on DVD
Other DVDs by Director Alejandro González Iñárritu
Why We Love Cate Blanchett

Stills from Babel (click for larger image)

Product Description

In Babel, a tragic incident involving an American couple in Morocco sparks a chain of events for four families in different countries throughout the world. In the struggle to overcome isolation, fear, and displacement, each character discovers that it is family that ultimately provides solace.

In the remote sands of the Moroccan desert, a rifle shot rings out-- detonating a chain of events that will link an American tourist couple's frantic struggle to survive, two Moroccan boys involved in an accidental crime, a nanny illegally crossing into Mexico with two American children, and a Japanese teen rebel whose father is sought by the police in Tokyo. Separated by clashing cultures and sprawling distances, each of these four disparate groups of people are nevertheless hurtling towards a shared destiny of isolation and grief. In the course of just a few days, they will each face the dizzying sensation of becoming profoundly lost - lost in the desert, lost to the world, lost to themselves - as they are pushed to the farthest edges of confusion and fear as well as to the very depths of connection and love.

In this mesmerizing, emotional film that was shot in three continents and four languages - and traverses both the deeply personal and the explosively political -- acclaimed director Alejandro González Iñárritu (21 Grams, Amores Perros) explores with shattering realism the nature of the barriers that seem to separate humankind. In doing so, he evokes the ancient concept of Babel and questions its modern day implications: the mistaken identities, misunderstandings and missed chances for communication that-- though often unseen-- drive our contemporary lives. Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Gael García Bernal, Kôji Yakusho, Adriana Barraza and Rinko Kikuchi lead an international ensemble of actors and non-professional actors from Morocco, Tijuana and Tokyo, who enrich Babel's take on cultural diversity and enhance its powerful examination of the links and frontiers between and within us.

Customer Reviews:

Mish mush.......2007-06-29

There are several different stories here only slightly related dealing with several different families in separate countries. Nothing that went into a whole. Some of the individual stories were touching. I particularly liked the Moroccan boys story. However overall it left me wondering what is the point of the story.

The acting is above average. Not surprising as it has some good actors. The filming is good.

Dry.......2007-06-26

Brad Pitt must be hard up for some money. Angelina's new kids must be costing him a fortune because this is the worst role he has ever taken. I think he's a great actor, love almost all of his other movies, but this one??? I'm not sure where to begin because, frankly I'm not sure what the story was about. Some lady, his wife or girlfriend, gets shot on a bus in Morroco or some place like that. Then some Mexicans try smuggling Brad Pitt and his lady friends children into Mexico... Border guards thought it was fishy that a couple of Mexicans were cruising around with some white kids so they busted the Mexicans and left the children to rot in the desert. Let's see... what else happened that made some sort of sense... This Mexican or Arabian fellow bought an illegal rifle and let his sons use it. They decided to use it to shoot at a bus, subsequently shooting Brad Pitts lady friend. And here's the kicker: a Japanese chick who was deaf gets naked for absolutely no reason! They show her at the club eaten some drugs, and next thing you know she's in some swank Tokyo condo gettin naked. I think that scene is what the whole movie was about and definitely worth the one star I gave it.

A powerful (but not concise) film.......2007-06-21

Babel, trying to imitate the wonderful style of Academy Award-winning Crash (Widescreen Edition), is a touching, thought provoking story of the world and its peoples.

The movie itself has an amazing premise--a husband, Richard Jones (Brad Pitt) decides to take his wife, Susan (Cate Blanchett) for an exotic vacation to Morocco. But things are hardly exotic, as they will soon find out. From Morocco the story transitions to California, where a Mexican-American maid is left in charge of the Jones' children while the couple are on vacation.

Babel continues to introduce new cultures as Mrs. Jones receives a wound to the shoulder while riding a bus through the deserts of Morocco. From there, a Moroccan family's role in the crime is unraveled, and the story of a Japanese deaf-mute begins.

This movie is truly touching, as all of the subplots intertwine and a feeling of bittersweet catharsis is felt.

This movie should be an absolute must for everyone; your life will be changed after watching this movie.

Farce.......2007-06-20

Let me start by saying that I really like this movie a lot. I think the point is very clearly stated in the preview, but not in the movie itself, although it's clear from watching the movie. The communication barriers we all deal with, and our prejudices against one another affect our lives, and make life hard, and painful, where there does not have to be any pain, or misunderstanding.
Cate Blanchett is a phenomenal actress, and does an outstanding job here, as the wife of Brad Pitt who gets shot in Morocco while riding on a bus. She is shot by two young boys, playing with a gun, and terroristic sirens sound off throughout the world. There are some other events happening in the movie too, with their children, and the original owner of the gun who is in China. Somehow they are all intertwined which makes for a compelling story. Each having their own struggles and issues, and communication related barrier. The original owner of the rifle has a deaf-mute daughter he has trouble communicating with after her mother commits suicide. Very well done, except one major complaint.
There are some very sexually explicit scenes involving children that were pretty much unessecary in making this a great movie. I personally, think it's tragic for people to accept having scenes like this in movies, that make it somehow acceptable. It's not ground breaking, it's just violating. And, I always thinks it's a bit of a farce when this is included in a movie that otherwise would be phenomenal on it's own merit. It just seems like a weak way to include some "shock" factor, when it's not needed, and dumbs down the movie. I could care less to see that, and didn't understand it's place in the movie, except to push the envelope. That could have been done in more valuable ways. Hence, why my rating is only a 3. But, otherwise, the storyline is great, and very interesting. I like movies that have a lot of moving parts, and stories happening in many places. Definitely one you should not miss.

The trouble with films like "Crash...".......2007-06-17

The film industry sees a success and realizes this is potentially a gold mine for more similar stories. Of course, they've got to add a twist--in this case, more languages, more locales and more cultures. As in the old saw: too many cooks spoil the soup, too many languages and locales spoil the story.

And--while there is always going to be a character or two who doesn't think in a movie, this one was riddled with folks who could have prevented their mishaps with just a little bit of common sense:

why would parents leave their kids in the care of a nanny who clearly isn't up to the task? I don't have children, but if I did, and I could afford a nanny, that person would be able to communicate and think much better than their employee

why would the illegal nanny take two American kids across the border?

why would the American couple go to a Muslim country, which is hostile where they spoke none of the language?

why would anyone let an intoxicated person drive--particularly at an international border?

One person's blunder can make an interesting plot device. Two people's blunder starts on comedy. Three? I can only shake my head so long at a movie before I am ready to give up. I made it to the end, but honestly I didn't think it was worth it. Very glad this was only a rental.

Average customer rating:

A Killer of a Movie
British comedy at its best
Can't Keep Mum on Mediocrity
Charmingly sweet story cleverly wrapped in a black comedy
Very British Dark Comedy

Keeping Mum
Starring: Rowan Atkinson , Kristin Scott Thomas , Maggie Smith , Patrick Swayze , and Tamsin Egerton
Director: Niall Johnson
Manufacturer: Velocity / Thinkfilm
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Black Comedy | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( K ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont
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Babel
The Illusionist (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000K7VHQY
Release Date: 2007-02-20

Description

KEEPING MUM stars Rowan Atkinson as an absent-minded vicar of a rural parish who is so distracted by the pressures of his job that he fails to notice his wife's (Kristin Scott Thomas) dalliance with her brash golf instructor (Patrick Swayze), his daughter's parade of new boyfriends, and his young son's regular trouncing by the school's bullies. Enter their charming new housekeeper, Grace (Maggie Smith), the answer to the family's prayers: a sweet old lady with her own distinctive definition of cleaning house - and a very unusual way of solving problems.

Customer Reviews:

A Killer of a Movie.......2007-06-27

Anyone reared or married into a minister's family will enjoy a vicarious revenge in Maggie Smith's uninhibited, unrepentant determination to level the playing field for her family. It was strange to see Rowan Atkinson in a mostly serious role but he did a good job, mixing sincerity with "serious" humor that only the English can do. I thought the ending was over-the-top and wasn't true to the family's character but the rest of the movie was good enough to make the flaws tolerable.

British comedy at its best.......2007-06-04

Keeping Mum is one of those eccentric British gems. The title itself is a pun and the witticisms keep coming. Great performances by Maggie Smith and Kristin Scott Thomas. The male roles were weak and the ladies were clearly the stronger characters. Grand-daughter Holly (Tamsin Egerton) is a great addition.

I've seen better by Rowan Atkinson, but overall a charming little movie. Maggie Smith as the sweet old-lady killer is classic.

Can't Keep Mum on Mediocrity.......2007-06-02

With its stellar cast, I expected "Keeping Mum" to be full of sophisticated dry wit. NOT! I mean, it isn't a terrible movie, but three stars is actually a generous rating. I'm tempted to demote it a bit for its corniness and hokey sex humor. With the possible exception of Rowan Atkinson's character, the viewer is not inspired to care much about the main players of the story. I was more concerned about the unwitting neighbor and his dog. Animal lovers such as myself will not be pleased with the outcome. I can take a joke but this one is pretty lame. Sorry to rain on the parade of happy campers who seem to like this movie, and I don't know why Amazon has paired "Keeping Mum" with "Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont"; the latter being a MUCH better British film.

Charmingly sweet story cleverly wrapped in a black comedy.......2007-05-30

Keeping Mum is a charmingly sweet story cleverly wrapped in a black comedy, with a dark plot about murder and strong undertones of family love and responsibility. Director and screenwriter Niall Johnson manages to pull it all together in a delightful way that will leave most audience members glad they watched, especially once they realize the pun in the title.
The film starts out 43 years ago on a train. We're introduced to Rosie Jones (a charming Emilia Fox), a smiling, gentle, very pregnant young lady... with a trunk in the train's storage compartment that is seeping blood. When she's turned in to the by the police by a suspicious porter she freely admits that her husband and his lover, or at least the remaining pieces of them, are in the trunk. When one officer asks why she did it, she casually responds "Well, I couldn't very well sit idly by, could I?" Cut to a courtroom where a judge locks her away in an insane asylum.

The audience is then introduced to the Goodfellow family (present day) and the rural English village of Little Wallop. Walter Goodfellow, the town vicar (subtly played by Rowan Atkinson of Mr. Bean fame), is so caught up in his sermons and the nagging members of his congregation that his home life is slipping away from him. His wife Gloria (the brilliant Kristin Scott Thomas) is having an affair with her golf instructor (Patrick Swayze in a hilarious role that feels like it was written just for him), his daughter Holly is coming home with a different boyfriend every other day, and his son is getting bullied at school. Enter Grace Hawkins.

Maggie Smith enters the scene as a renamed, aged Rosie Jones, who believes the best way to solve your problems is to get rid of them, literally. In a slightly twisted, darkly hilarious version of Mary Poppins, Maggie Smith comes to the Goodfellow family as a maid and nanny and in her own way starts to straighten things up. Her antics may be a tad outlandish, but in their own strange way, they're just what the Goodfellow family needs: a touch of Grace.

The acting is top knotch, the humor is decidedly British and dark, and every joke delivers. Patrick Swayze really stands out in a cast of Brits as the libidinized Texas golf instructor trying to seduce the vicar's wife and spy on the vicar's daughter. Throwing himself into the role with reckless abandon shows Swayze's comedic timing and adds an extra layer to the British humor.

The DVD includes several special features, including feature commentary by the director, a rather dry blooper reel, quite a few deleted scenes (I mean "bonus" scenes), and an extended scene of Rowan Atkinson as a soccer goalie that may be the funniest part of the DVD. Keeping Mum is an all around great experience.

Very British Dark Comedy.......2007-05-28

I happen to be a big fan of British comedies, even though I'm American. I rented "Keeping Mum" because I enjoy Rowan Atkinson's performances, and even though he's not really the central character in this movie, he does a fine job -- as do all the actors. Indeed, the casting is just about perfect.

The movie manages to make light of a number of basically grim topics - most notably murder - and it's definitely not for the kiddies. But if you like wry humor, and aren't put off by swearing, partial nudity, and a lot of violence (mostly off-screen) then "Keeping Mum" will tickle your fancy.

McLintock! (Authentic Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

McLintock!!! Oh yeah, this is the one baby.
Clarification for those McLintock fans!
I'm rating the actual DVD not the movie
Unknown Quantity
Classic--Must have

McLintock! (Authentic Collector's Edition)
Starring: John Wayne , Maureen O'Hara , Patrick Wayne , Stefanie Powers , and Chill Wills
Director: Andrew V. McLaglen
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

All Titles | John Wayne Store | Stores | DVD | Video

1960s | John Wayne Store | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

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Similar Items:

Hondo (Special Collector's Edition)
Donovan's Reef
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The Quiet Man (Collector's Edition)
El Dorado

ASIN: B000ANVPPQ
Release Date: 2005-10-11

Amazon.com

John Wayne's most popular vehicle of the 1960s is a broad, boisterous comedy-Western and a family movie in every sense--in subject matter, casting, personnel, and the audience it aims to bear-hug. Wayne and his Quiet Man partner Maureen O'Hara reprise their large-boned lovers' quarrel in a Wild West variation on The Taming of the Shrew, while a cast of familiar supporting players do their best to avoid becoming collateral damage.

The picture is fascinating as an attempt to adjust and update the Duke as all-American icon. Rancher George Washington McLintock owns most of the town that bears his name, but James Edward Grant's screenplay is at didactic pains to establish the benevolence and socio-political enlightenment of his reign. G.W.'s former Indian foes have become his pals, he enjoys nothing so much as playing chess with his Jewish merchant buddy (Jack Kruschen), and he's tolerant--as his fellow landowners are not--of the homesteaders crowding into the territory. In what now seems like prescience about where things were headed in the 1960s, he even does his best to achieve rapport with (gasp!) impatient youth.

McLintock! was the first movie produced by eldest son Michael Wayne, and the first major assignment for director Andrew V. McLaglen (son of Quiet Man costar Victor). It steals like a bandit from a host of much better movies, but the Duke's great good humor and professionalism redoubtably anchor the proceedings. --Richard T. Jameson

Customer Reviews:

McLintock!!! Oh yeah, this is the one baby........2007-04-09

Thank you! This is the version everyone has been waiting for - all the scenes in wide-screen theater format - all the dialog is back - no more awkward, out-of-place close-ups. It was a joy to sit and watch as it was intended, to share with my wife and kids. I was amazed that even some of the hidden, background, dialog, by Ching especially, has been brought back.
Frankly, it was worth the wait for Hollywood to get it right.

Clarification for those McLintock fans!.......2007-03-25

Buy the AUTHENTIC version-ASIN: B000ANVPPQ (McLintock Wayne Authorized Edition), DO NOT buy ASIN: B000006OS2 (McLintock).

I noticed that reviews on the two dvd's are being mixed together, and making it difficult for others to distinguish between the wonderful feedback of the former to that of the God awful latter dvd.

I'm rating the actual DVD not the movie.......2007-03-24

I LOVE this movie I've seen it probably more than 100 times! So imagine how excited I was to see it for like 5 bucks at Wal-Mart.... this particular copy is sitting next to me right now and all can say is I was really mad when I sat and watched it, the editing is horrible there are times when the camera zooms on people it shouldn't, lines are cut out and sometimes there are voices but no one's lips are moving. Buy the authorized version not this one this one sucks.

Unknown Quantity.......2007-03-22

unable to view because of incompatible format (as you warned me!)However, my ancestor James McLintock of Barnsley, Yorkshire, England sent John Wayne an eiderdown quilt for making the film (which is why I wanted the DVD)so......

Classic--Must have.......2007-03-08

This is the version of this film to have. Many other versions are out there but the quality of those are severely lacking. The film is outstandingly clear and every bit as wonderful as I remembered. The vast array of special features are fascinating. This is the one John Wayne film everyone should have.

Average customer rating:

Carey and company smash another homer
Don't Mess With Dick and Jane...
Not so fun the second time around.
Much better than the original
Run,Dick,run!

Fun with Dick and Jane
Starring: Jim Carrey , Téa Leoni , Alec Baldwin , Richard Jenkins , and Angie Harmon
Director: Dean Parisot
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Comic Criminals | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Domestic Comedies | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

( F ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000E8N8H0
Release Date: 2006-04-11

Amazon.com

Remakes are always a gamble, so it's a pleasant surprise that Fun with Dick and Jane pays off with unexpected dividends. It's as entertaining as the 1977 original starring George Segal and Jane Fonda, and the teaming of Jim Carrey and Téa Leoni makes this a safe bet for comedy fans, in spite of a slapstick screenplay that fails to achieve its fullest potential. Rather than attempt a darkly comedic send-up of the Enron scandal that left thousands of stockholders in financial ruin, director Dean Parisot (Galaxy Quest) opts for a lighter, more accessible (read: commercial) satire of corporate greed and cynicism, beginning in the year 2000 when Dick (Carrey) gets a plum promotion as a mega-corporate communications director just as his boss (Alec Baldwin) is preparing to bail out before stock prices plummet. Dick's wife Jane (Leoni) has quit her job as a travel agent, so the corporate bombshell leaves them penniless and desperate, resorting to petty thievery and, eventually, plotting high-stakes revenge against the greedy executives who ruined their lives. As a send-up of financial distress in a ravaged post-Enron economy, Fun with Dick and Jane delivers laughs with just enough pointed humor to give it a strong satirical edge, and Carrey's reliable brand of zaniness is controlled enough to balance nicely with Leoni's more subtle (and woefully underrated) skills as a screen comedienne. And while the "special thanks" end-credits hint at the sharper, more biting satire this might have been, there's enough fun with Dick and Jane to make this recycled comedy worth a look. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Fun With Dick And Jane provides comic relief alongside a relevant look at today's corporate scandals. In the film, Dick Harpers' (Carrey) years of hard work finally pay off when he is promoted to vice president of Globodyne, a worldwide business leader. After exactly one day at his new job, Globodyne is destroyed, leaving him and his loving wife, Jane (Leoni) without financial security. This sudden reversal of fortune has left them both unprepared to give up their comfortable lifestyle and Dick comes up with the brilliant idea of turning to robbery to pay the bills. Utilizing newfound skills, Dick and Jane exact hilarious revenge while teaching big business a lesson.

Customer Reviews:

Carey and company smash another homer.......2007-05-09

A very economical film that mixes satire with goofy slapstick. Leoni gives
a decent performance, but has good chem w/ Jim. The film is exquisitely
paced and features an excellent soundtrack and songs. Odd twists such as the immigration adventure, working at "costmart", the final bank switcharoo and others keep the movie lively. Carey once again
plays his character to the tee and does not over act when required. Rack 'em! PS - See the toy store extra in the deleted scenes, I have no idea why this hilarious romp was cut!

Don't Mess With Dick and Jane..........2007-05-03

If you were to lose your job due to the evil machinations of your boss, what would you do to get payback? How far would you go to ensure that your family is taken care of financially? Would you be willing to steal for the money? Sell your body to science? Dress up like Sonny and Cher? Well, not everyone would be willing to go to those lengths, especially the latter, but that's how far Jim Carrey and Tea Leoni are willing to go in the hit comedy remake of "Fun with Dick and Jane".

"Fun with Dick and Jane" gives us a glimpse into the happy life of Dick and Jane Harper (Jim Carrey and Tea Leoni), a loving, middle class couple whose lives are turned upside down when Dick is terminated as Globodyne Corporation's VP of Communications after being set up by his boss (Alec Baldwin). After months of searching for new work Dick and Jane are at the end of their ropes; virtually everything they own has been repossessed, including their lawn, and both have tried to make money on the sides by having Jane sell her body to science and Dick working as a day laborer only to find himself temporarily deported to Mexico. Feeling increasingly desperate, this once happy couple turn to their last resort, stealing money from the rich and giving to the poor... basically themselves.

I really wanted to see this movie when it was initially released to theaters, but reviews from critics and average movie audiences weren't always so kind towards it. Thus leading me to doubt whether I wanted to pay the expensive cost of tickets to see what could possibly be just another comedy where all the funny parts are in the previews. So, I waited until its arrival on DVD, and upon renting and watching this movie I discovered that not only did I find the movie to be very funny, downright hilarious in some spots, but it also had a large amount of drama and heart as the characters dealt with a lagging income due to their current circumstances. I was really impressed by Jim Carrey in this movie, because he generally has a tendency to go over-the-top with most of his characters, but for this movie he stayed pretty even, and I thought that for the subject matter of a couple being down on their luck being such a highly relatable topic for many people, he played the role respectfully to those in that position. Tea Leoni did a wonderful job as the loving housewife whose watching her dream house and life being stripped away from her, and feels helpless to stop it from happening, but in all the insanity still providing the loving support her husband needs, even in some of the not-so-legal money making endeavors.

The story for "Fun with Dick and Jane" contained a very serious undertone, covered by comedy without being too nonchalant about the subject matter. The writers along with the director did a very good job of walking that fine line between being too serious and making a drama out of the movie and isolating Jim Carrey's core audience, while not being too light and comedic to make those that are in that position or have been feel as if they are being made light of. So, kudos to the creative team behind the film to find the proper balance to deliver a very solid comedy with the right amount of drama to make the whole movie believable and enjoyable to watch.

"Fun with Dick and Jane" is rated PG-13 for language.

Not so fun the second time around........2007-03-30

Fun with Dick and Jane starring Jim Carrey and Tea Leoni is a movie that just never got off the ground for me. The leads are a hoot and completely talented but the script does nothing to show how funny they are. I am so tired of Alec Baldwin, he is in every freakin' movie and t.v. show, who said he could act!? The original flim is so more unique and funnier. It's a shame this movie was such a disappontment, I was expecting so much more. The beginning and ending of the film were such a letdown but I am giving this movie three stars 'cause I love the leads and the middle of the movie did have some standout moments. This is a so-so flim so you be the judge of it.

Much better than the original.......2007-03-28

I wasn't a fan of the original with George Segal and Jane Fonda; their characters were cartoonish, and they spent most of their time in the film whining. Carrey and Leoni however are genuinely funny together, and I loved the running gag of their son speaking Spanish. I enjoyed the Enron spin they put on this update, even if it does lead to a fairy tale ending. Since the critics savaged this film, I wasn't expecting much. Sadly I should have known better than to listen to the critics, especially since almost every reputable critic praised the endless KING KONG remake by Peter Jackson to high heaven. By the second hour of that film, I was almost comatose. Luckily FUN WITH DICK AND JANE is a breezy, entertaining little film. An amusing way to spend ninety minutes. Check it out.

Run,Dick,run!.......2007-02-28

Fun with Dick and Jane is one of those moves that you just have to see again. Add that with the comic genious of Jim Carrey and Tea Leoni and you have one hell of a funny movie. Carrey plays Dick Harper,who is terminated from his job,Globodyne,after it crashes suddenly. The company's CEO,Jack McCallister,played by Alec Baldwin,is suspected. Meanwhile,Dick and Jane both hunt for jobs,and hit dead ends at every turn. Eventually,their lawn is taken away,Dick is off hunting for jobs in Mexico,and Jane has had some reconstructive surgery done. Pissed off,Dick and Jane start a new hobby:armed robbery, as they take back what was taken away from them. It all leads to a showdown with Jack McCallister as Dick seeks to get revenge on his destruction of Globodyne.All in all,a pleasing and funny family comedy

Average customer rating:

An excellent movie...
BABEL Preview
Babel is a good movie but it is missing something.
This is a horrible movie
Amazingly painful journey

Babel [Blu-ray]
Starring: Brad Pitt , Cate Blanchett , Mohamed Akhzam , and Peter Wight
Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video

Drama | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video

Kids & Family | Blu-ray | Formats | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

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ASIN: B000MCH5TK
Release Date: 2007-02-20

Amazon.com

Beyond Babel

Other Interweaving Storylines on DVD
Other DVDs by Director Alejandro González Iñárritu
Why We Love Cate Blanchett

Stills from Babel (click for larger image)

Product Description

In this mesmerizing, emotional film that was shot in three continents and four languages - and traverses both the deeply personal and the explosively political -- acclaimed director Alejandro González Iñárritu (21 Grams, Amores Perros) explores with shattering realism the nature of the barriers that seem to separate humankind. In doing so, he evokes the ancient concept of Babel> and questions its modern day implications: the mistaken identities, misunderstandings and missed chances for communication that-- though often unseen-- drive our contemporary lives. Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Gael García Bernal, Kôji Yakusho, Adriana Barraza and Rinko Kikuchi lead an international ensemble of actors and non-professional actors from Morocco, Tijuana and Tokyo, who enrich Babel's take on cultural diversity and enhance its powerful examination of the links and frontiers between and within us.

Customer Reviews:

An excellent movie..........2007-04-04

Definitely worth watching... Picture quality and sound quality are great. Plays fine on the PS3.

BABEL Preview.......2007-03-21

It was a great movie. However, many people don't like these kinds of movies and we didn't feel that it had the full Blu-ray high definition. Meanwhile, I like the kind of Drama in it. The way of knowing a lot of different cultures.

Babel is a good movie but it is missing something........2007-02-26

Babel is a movie based on a series of misunderstandings, and links the unfortunate circumstances of a Moroccan, an American, a Mexican and a Japanese family all through a rifle. A Moroccan family gets a rifle to protect their goats. The father lets his 2 sons use it while he runs errands. They want to see if the rifle can really shoot as far as they were told. They practice by shooting at the tiny cars below the hill that they are on. The youngest brother ends up hitting an American woman, on a bus tour with her husband. By the time the press gets a hold of the story they label the incident as a "terrorist attack". The same couple's children are being taken care of by their caretaker. The caretaker decides to take the kids to Mexico to attend her son's wedding. On their way back in to the U.S they face a few problems when it is discovered the women has been living in the U.S. as an illegal alien. A Japanese father is having trouble communicating with his deaf teenage daughter. The girl has been craving human affection ever since the death of her mother. All the stories are linked by the rifle. Brad Pitt and Rinko Kikuchi who plays the Japanese girl give great performances. All this probably sounds confusing but in the end it will all make sense. Brad Pitt and Rinko Kikuchi who plays the Japanese girl give great performances. BRAD PITT gives his best performance only after FIGHT CLUB. The one thing I did not like about this movie was the ending, which left me wanting to know more. The blu-ray disc of BABEL has amazing picture and sound but no bonus material what's so ever. Babel is a entertaining, yet sad movie that is worth taking a look at. Babel is up against The Departed for this years Best Picture Awards at the Oscars. I enjoyed this film but to me The Departed was a better movie and will most likely take home Best Picture Oscar.

This is a horrible movie.......2007-02-25

I'm sorry but I just don't understand the hype of this movie. It was just plain bad. There were maybe 3 scenes in which grabbed my attention but beyond that I found myself wondering what the point was. Brad Pitt was hardly in the movie so as far as his performance goes, there wasn't enough to consider.This movie falls into the realm of yet another movie that critics fall over that has no meat on the bone (Lost in Translation) & a 90% chance you will be wanting your $30 back. My suggestion...skip this & pick up a copy of the departed.

Amazingly painful journey .......2007-02-21

This movie is incredible. The story had me riveted from the beginning. A cosmic version of the movie Crash on a grander scale. This journey takes us to many different parts of the world. The cinematography is wonderful and the grittiness is so very real. In this movie you are not getting a santized view of the world we live in. This movie is so much bigger than just Brad Pitt.

In Babel we are quickly thrust into a series of terrible events that seems to have no end. Just when you are hoping for something to turn better it doesn't. From the beginning portrayl of two Morrocan brothers who are entrusted to take care of the families livelihood it becomes apparent how much children are the same. The wonderful acting almost had me feeling the warm air of the desert as I began to feel if I was there. I quickly felt a lump in my stomach as the inevitable happens and the horrendous journey begins. I will save the story for you the viewer but please be ready from an emotional joyride.

What I think captivated me most was that Babel wasn't watered down. It was real, incredibely real. From the Middle East, to Japan, and then to Mexico the stories seemed almost to real. Combined with the acting I was quickly thrown over the edge. It's almost hard to imagine the magnitude of such a film bringing so many cultures together. Yet it did and it did very well. Everyone played a part that you could imagine would be real.

Overall this movie is a must see. Don't get ready for some happy celebration that will make you feel good. This movie is distrubing...and if your not paying attention you will miss something. Your not going to find much lighthearted fun. Even when there is a joyful scene a serious touch of reality comes. When you see children playing a game where they attempt to catch a chicken that goes from excitment to grief on the child's face when they see the real fate of the chicken they just caught. The Blu-ray version won't leave you stunned for the most part. It lacks any special features that would make it stand out. The hd picture is okay but not stunning. I would say if cosmetics aren't very big for you to go get the standard dvd version. Generally this movie is worth many awards and hopefully it gets it's place in cinematic history.

Average customer rating:

as good as it gets
........The China-Burma Campaign [ 1941-1945]
wartime romance with Victor Mature and Li Li Hua

China Doll
Starring: Victor Mature
Director: Frank Borzage
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000MTFFR2
Release Date: 2007-04-24

Amazon.com

Victor Mature's long-suffering, bloodhound visage is the central image in Frank Borzage's wartime romance drama China Doll, a perfect example of what critic Andrew Sarris once referred to as Borzage's films about war as an intrusion on the emotional privacy of lovers. Mature plays Air Force Captain Cliff Brandon, stationed in China and training elite pilots by day during World War II. At night, Brandon becomes a drunken loner shunning the company of his men, Red Cross nurses, and local women who try to sell him comfort. Things change when Brandon, stumbling home from a bar, agrees to buy an old Chinese man's daughter, Shu-Jen (Li Hua Li), for three months, a decision the officer instantly regrets in the cold light of day. Convinced by his sole confidante--a priest (Ward Bond) running an orphanage--that the only honorable way out is to let Shu-Jen fulfill her three-month obligation, Brandon soon finds himself falling for her and re-embracing life. With the world on a collision course with itself, however, Brandon and Shu-Jen's shared destiny departs from the life of mutual salvation and closeness they've earned. Borzage's delicacy with the love story finds echoes in parallel relationships between other characters. In fact, struggling for a clear path to intimacy in the midst of battle seems very much on the minds of everyone in this movie. Action sequences are reasonably crisp, though they're not designed to thrill so much as devastate viewers. A climactic scene set at an Air Force base under attack by Japanese pilots is one of the most powerful and poignant wartime visions in American cinema. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

as good as it gets.......2007-06-01

Old school romance. Probably enjoyed more by the over 30 group or pure romantic. Picture quality is A-1. A movie with a romance and war theme.

........The China-Burma Campaign [ 1941-1945].......2007-05-30

This movie [now a DVD] was made in 1958 and it covers the pilots who flew over the Himalayan mountains from Burma-Tibet-China...this movie lacks genuine art/direction for the various tableaus look so flimsy throughout the entire film...every GI was spit-shined and plenty of booze for all hands [is there a war going on??]...Vic Mature is almost in every scene as a hard-bitten CO but shows hardly any emotion even when annoyed...the cast around him is second string all the way except for Ward Bond...and as for singer Johnny Desmond, he is totally forgettable in the role of a pilot...on the bright side the Chinese actress LiLi Hua is perfect in her virginal/traditional role and very easy on the eyes, too...the story/line is good with a tearful ending for the only survivor to arrive in the USA...I think it is over/priced for the final product...this here movie could have been Vic Mature's sayonara to his long and wonderful film career......SSGT CHRIS SARNO-USMC FMF

wartime romance with Victor Mature and Li Li Hua.......2007-05-29

CHINA DOLL is a finely-pitched wartime drama. Victor Mature plays Capt. Cliff Brandon, a disillusioned airman fighting against the Japanese. One morning he wakes up to discover he has purchased the services of a beautiful Chinese housekeeper, Shu-Jen (played by the celebrated Asian actress Li Li Hua in one of her rare American film appearances).

This is one of the better films produced by Frank Borzage around this period. Just like the similarly-themed "Sayonara" and "The World of Suzie Wong", CHINA DOLL explores the problems and prejudices involved in a cross-cultural relationship.

Victor Mature is fine playing Captain Brandon; but it's Li Li Hua who really owns this picture. She only made a handful of movies in America, but here she is truly magnificent. The cast also includes Ward Bond, Bob Mathias, Johnny Desmond and Elaine Devry.

It's great to see CHINA DOLL finally on DVD. The disc offers no extras but the anamorphic transfer looks a treat. (Single-sided, single-layer disc).

Average customer rating:

Mish mush
Dry
A powerful (but not concise) film
Farce
The trouble with films like "Crash..."

Babel [HD-DVD]
Starring: Brad Pitt , Cate Blanchett , Mohamed Akhzam , and Peter Wight
Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: HD DVD

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ASIN: B000MCH5TU
Release Date: 2007-02-20

Amazon.com

Beyond Babel

Other Interweaving Storylines on DVD
Other DVDs by Director Alejandro González Iñárritu
Why We Love Cate Blanchett

Stills from Babel (click for larger image)

Product Description

In this mesmerizing, emotional film that was shot in three continents and four languages - and traverses both the deeply personal and the explosively political -- acclaimed director Alejandro González Iñárritu (21 Grams, Amores Perros) explores with shattering realism the nature of the barriers that seem to separate humankind. In doing so, he evokes the ancient concept of Babel> and questions its modern day implications: the mistaken identities, misunderstandings and missed chances for communication that-- though often unseen-- drive our contemporary lives. Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Gael García Bernal, Kôji Yakusho, Adriana Barraza and Rinko Kikuchi lead an international ensemble of actors and non-professional actors from Morocco, Tijuana and Tokyo, who enrich Babel's take on cultural diversity and enhance its powerful examination of the links and frontiers between and within us.

Customer Reviews:

Mish mush.......2007-06-29

Dry.......2007-06-26

A powerful (but not concise) film.......2007-06-21

Farce.......2007-06-20

The trouble with films like "Crash...".......2007-06-17

Average customer rating:

Rebecca
Pretty Good Re-make of Rebecca
Rebecca
Eyes like a snake
Rent don't buy

Rebecca
Starring: Anthony Bate , John Branwell , Jonathan Cake , Tom Chadbon , and Lucy Cohu
Director: Jim O'Brien
Manufacturer: Wgbh Boston
ProductGroup: DVD
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Rebecca
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ASIN: B00008DDRZ
Release Date: 2003-02-25

Description

Daphne du Maurier's classic tale of romance, suspense and jealousy, Rebecca, is brought to you in this lavish adaptation. Set in elegant Monte Carlo and dramatic Cornwall in the 1930s. this drama stars Charles Dance (Gosford Park, The Jewel in the Crown)as the sophisticated Maxim de Winter and Emilia Fox (Pride and Prejudice) as the young woman who becomes the second Mrs. de Winter.

When Maxim de Winter proposes to such a young woman nobody is more surprised than the circle of society friends who learn the intriguing news, especially as his new wife is the opposite of Maxim's first wife, the beautiful Rebecca, who mysteriously died in a tragic drowning accident.

After Maxim takes his new wife back to his home, the ancient and magnificent Manderley, it soon becomes evident that the shadow of Rebecca is all-pervasive, nurtured all the more by the sinister gothic housekeeper Mrs. Danvers (Diana Rigg, The Avengers, Mother Love, A Hazard of Hearts).

The new Mrs. de Winter beings to uncover the darkness of the past that taints the present and threatens to haunt her future...

Special DVD features include: Q&A with Diana Rigg; select cast filmographies; Masterpiece Theatre poster gallery; access to Masterpiece Theatre web site; scene selection; English audiotrack; and closed captions.

On one DVD9 disc. Region coding: All regions. Audio: Dolby stereo. Screen format: Full screen

Customer Reviews:

Rebecca.......2007-01-12

Dear Sir or Madam,

I cannot comment on this DVD, since I encountered a bad seller, and I did not receive the DVD. I cancelled my order in the end.

Pretty Good Re-make of Rebecca.......2006-11-06

In short, I am a fan of Hitchcock's work and have seen almost all of his movies and I agree that there is nothing like the original Rebecca (1940), which is my all time favorite. I also agree that no remake will ever come close to the original. Having established that, I was pleasantly surprised with this 1997 version with its beautiful scenary, good casting, fine acting and a different take from the original. I found myself glued to the TV and very much entertained. Yes, the movie is 3 hours long, but it is very well made and you get more details than what the classic offers. I think the reason some viewers are dissappointed is because they truly expect to see the 1940 version with Hitchcock's movie magic touches. No current director will ever have that type of unique and uncanny talent that Hitchcock brought to each of his movies. Having said that, I feel this 1997 version stands on its own as a pretty good film and worth taking a look if you don't expect this version to be an exact duplicate of the classic. I highly recommend this film version of Rebecca if you want to explore another take of this fine classic and if you don't expect this to be a Hitchcock film because it's not. I feel this version deserves 5 stars standing on its own and without comparing it to the original.

Rebecca.......2006-08-15

It looked like brand new and came pretty quickly. Thumbs up for me.

Eyes like a snake.......2006-07-30

There should be some sort of rule that if Alfred Hitchcock did it, then it should never be adapted or remade again -- you only compare it unfavorably to his work. In the case of the BBC's "Rebecca," it's high on story fidelity but lacking in gothic atmosphere, very slow, and with a cast that is hit-and-miss.

A young girl (Emilia Fox) is at Monte Carlo with her employer, where she meets and befriends the wealthy Maxim de Winter (Charles Dance). When she's due to leave, he asks her to marry him -- though he was supposedly heartbroken over his wife Rebecca's death -- and whisks her back to Cornwall, to his ancient family estate Manderley.

But Manderly is haunted by Rebecca's presence, partly because of the ominous housekeeper (Diana Rigg), who is still obsessively devoted to Rebecca. The new Mrs. de Winter believes that Maxim still love Rebecca -- until the horrific secrets of Rebecca's life and death are revealed. And a smashed boat with a body has been found in the nearby bay.

One thing you can't fault "Rebecca" with is fidelity to Daphne DuMaurier's original novel. This miniseries sticks like glue to the words and events of the book. Unfortunately it sticks a little too slavishly at times, which leads to the miniseries being rather long and kind of dull at times.

Not to mention the famed "window-suicide" scene, when Danvers tries to hypnotize her new mistress into walking out of a window. It's a powerful scene, but I'd love to see anyone try to spontaneously commit suicide from a tiny, high-up window about ten feet off the ground.

The BBC has always been terrible with ominous atmosphere. There is zero gothic flavor, no suspense, and that is what "Rebecca" should be about -- not a murder mystery. They stick to what they know, with lots of sumptuous British sets and period details, especially in the artificial glamour of Monte Carlo's hotels, and the costume ball.

The casting is spotty -- Emelia Fox is excellent as Ms. de Winter, looking mousy and childlike, but gaining new strength as she realizes how much Maxim needs her. Dance gives an enthusiastic but rather pallid performance. And Rigg does an amazing job with a terribly written character: Mrs. Danvers is turned into a pitiful figure rather than a frightening one, who breaks down crying in front of everyone.

But there is another big flaw -- we see all of Rebecca in bits and pieces. The power of the character is in never seeing this uber-femme fatale, and so seeing her entire body, bits of her face and hearing her voice all take away from it. Rebecca's "power" over Manderley seems to die when we see her.

Faithful but dull, "Rebecca" loses a lot of what should have made it shine, like gothic atmosphere, drama and an absent namesake. It's passable as a BBC miniseries, but try the Hitchcock version instead.

Rent don't buy.......2006-06-05

Since the Hitchcock version is out of print,I bought this version.It lacks the sinister atmosphere,suspense,and foreboding of the book and Hitchcock version.Lacking these qualities, the movie is plodding and rather boring. While Diana Rigg is intriguing as Mrs. Danvers, the portrayal of the characters of Maxim and the second Mrs. DeWinter are unsatisfying.The two have no chemistry, and I care about neither. Ultimately,I read the reviews to judge if I should purchase the movie.I will pass this version on to a friend but will not keep it in my library.Wish I would have rented it instead.

Average customer rating:

chilling
Quality Masterpiece Theater Production
Disappointing
WELL DIRECTED, POORLY CAST & SCRIPTED
The Turn of the Screw (Ben Bolt, director)

Henry James' The Turn of the Screw
Starring: Jodhi May , Pam Ferris , Colin Firth , Joe Sowerbutts , and Grace Robinson
Director: Ben Bolt (II)
Manufacturer: Wgbh Boston
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0001WTUJO
Release Date: 2004-04-13

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Henry James's classic ghost story of psychological suspense provides the basis for this Masterpiece Theatre presentation. Jodhi May, with her warm and open demeanor, is perfectly cast as "Miss," the generically named governess at a grand British estate. Her charges are two seemingly angelic little orphans. Miss can't believe her good fortune at landing such a delightful job. "Am I dreaming?" she asks kindly, corpulent housekeeper Mrs. Grose (Pam Ferris). But dream turns to nightmare as the house's spectral inhabitants reveal themselves to her. Miss becomes obsessed with protecting her precious "little creatures" from the vile phantasms. The movie is satisfyingly spooky and makes us jump in all the right places. The children, Flora (Grace Robinson) and Miles (Joe Sowerbutts), are genuinely creepy. "When I'm bad, Miss, I really am extremely bad," asserts little Miles, and we believe him. This provocative adaptation of The Turn of the Screw breathes new life into James's morbid Victorian obsession with sexuality and morality. --Laura Mirsky

Description

A naive, young governess (May) is hired by a charming bachelor (Firth) to look after his two young children in a grand mansion in rural England. She is determined to make the most of her situation, despite the Master's strange stipulation that she never contact him. Her first impressions are all good—the house is beautiful, the housekeeper (Ferris) is friendly, the children are lovely and the job is a perfect delight. But then, she sees the ghosts of the former valet, Peter Quint and a previous governess, Miss Jessel, and everything changes. The young governess is convinced that the children can see the ghosts, that they can communicate with them, and and that their very souls are in danger. She feels she alone can save them from a horrifying fate.

Jodhi May (A World Apart), Pam Ferris (Matilda) and Colin Firth (Pride and Prejudice, Shakespeare in Love) star in this chilling adaptation of Henry James' gripping horror story, The Turn of the Screw.

Special DVD features include: link to the Masterpiece TheatreWeb site; scene selections; and closed captions.

On one DVD5 disc. Region coding: All regions. Audio: Dolby stereo. Screen format: 4 x 3 full frame.

Customer Reviews:

chilling.......2007-05-01

in the vein of "the woman in black," "the others" and the old vincent price films such as "the pit and the pendulum" this film doesn't take much to creep up your spine. being a little skeptical and not seeing many masterpiece theater productions, this was lavishly done and uses a simple format to get to the core of what is truly haunting to the human psychology. A great movie with great performances, highly recommended as a definitive interpretation of the classic henry james story.

Quality Masterpiece Theater Production.......2007-02-03

This version of Henry James's famous ghost story is well rendered and keeps the storyline while adding some subtle (or not so subtle) insight in to the mind of the unnamed governess. Knowing the plot quite well I did not find the movie particularly scary but for someone unfamiliar or who hasn't read the book in awhile there could be some real chills. And as is so often true in ghost stories the more the movie shows of the spirits the less frightening they become and the viewer gets some real good looks at both Peter Quint and Miss Jessel. Just like in James's novel the transformation of the children and the ambiguity of the whole thing causes the most spine tingles.

Disappointing.......2006-04-01

I understand every generation's desire to remake or reinterpret classic dramas, plays and literature, in this case, Henry James psychological ghost story, "The Turn of the Screw." However, as 21st century filmmakers should know by now: modern and newer is not necessarily better. And less is more as the producers should have realized when they considered this remake. In the outstanding and remarkable 1961 adaptation "The Innocents" the ghosts or apparitions are for the most part seen briefly and at a distance. Music, sound effects, and stunning cinematography made the apparitions and children's precocious behavior even more chilling and disconcerting. This drama doesn't work for the following reasons: the ghosts are revealed close-up, in realistic and lingering shots. They are neither mysterious nor frightening. The children are unappealing and not terribly convincing; in other words very badly cast. And most surprisingly, the very talented Jodhi May who should have been perfect for this role is somehow simultaneously grim and blank from the beginning; she gives us little insight into her character. Overall, this is a disappointing adaptation

WELL DIRECTED, POORLY CAST & SCRIPTED.......2006-02-21

Ben Bolt is a capable director, and the here he does a good job - with everything but his lead actor. The music is wonderful, just enough to make your spine tingle. The problem here is Jodhi May. She turns in a endlessly one-note performance. She seems to be focussing so hard on not ever blinking, while her mouth is perpetually agape. Mr Bolt must be to blame for this, because she certainly seems a decent actor. Nonetheless, her performance drags this interesting production down into the realm of a cartoon. Unfortunate, for the children and housekeeper - and ghosts - are solid supporting cast. The script also is awkward and at times clumsy. I suspect the other reviewer is correct in ideally wanting to hear this story read by firelight - either 100 years ago, or perhaps tonight.

The Turn of the Screw (Ben Bolt, director).......2005-09-21

Inevitably, I suppose, any stage or screen adaptation of James's novella must finally make a firm decision regarding what James himself is able to leave satisfyingly ambiguous on the printed page: namely, the emotional and mental stability of the governess, played here with great zest and skill by Jodhi May. Director Bolt's choice is clear enough; for him, the governess is (or becomes) an obsessed, sex-starved Freudian case study--a well-intended young woman who nonetheless ends up posing an infinitely greater peril to her charges--Miles and Flora--than do any of those ghosts she (mistakenly) thinks she sees.
I myself miss the ambiguity of James's text here, but the production itself is first-rate: terrific acting, cinematography, and casting. However, if, as a reader of James, you are convinced that the governess is an eminently reliable narrator concerning the disturbing events at Bly, this directorial interpretation is likely to rankle.

Average customer rating:

McLintock!!! Oh yeah, this is the one baby.
Clarification for those McLintock fans!
I'm rating the actual DVD not the movie
Unknown Quantity
Classic--Must have

McLintock!
Starring: John Wayne , Maureen O'Hara , Patrick Wayne , Stefanie Powers , and Chill Wills
Director: Andrew V. McLaglen
Manufacturer: Good Times Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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